Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$)

Why Do These Designations Exist?

Under California Senate Bill 1359 and CSUDH Academic Affairs policy 2020-03, we must provide a clear designation in our online course schedule for courses that use free or low-cost course materials to avoid textbook costs.

CSUDH Designations:

• Zero-Cost Course Materials (ZCCM) – No required material costs.
• Low-Cost Course Materials (LCCM) – Required materials cost $40 or less.
• Includes textbooks, access codes, lab supplies, and more.
• Optional costs (e.g., print versions of OER, supplemental resources) are NOT included.
• Costs cannot be averaged across multi-course sequences.

How to Add ZCCM/LCCM to Your Course?

• Instructors must notify their department chair and/or course scheduler each semester.
• The AL$ Coordinator cannot add a designation into the schedule, but would love to consult on ways to make your course ZCCM.
•  If your text is a free e-book via the University Library, it only qualifies as ZCCM if it is available with a unlimited user license.

FAQs:
 

• Who decides whether a course is ZCCM/LCCM?
  Only the instructor teaching the course knows exactly what materials are being used, so they are the one who can confirm whether ZCCM or LCCM are applicable.

• Do I need to reapply each semester?
   Yes, you must ensure the ZCCM designation is reported each semester.

•  What if no instructor is assigned yet?
   ZCCM/LCCM should not be used unless the materials are standardized by a department-wide process/decision.
 
• What if the instructor changes?
   The new instructor can remove the designation if they choose different materials.

• Do non-textbook materials count?
   Yes, required purchases like calculators, lab safety equipment, uniforms, art supplies, etc. disqualify a course from ZCCM.

• What about PDFs or copyright concerns?
  ZCCM courses must comply with copyright restrictions, so you cannot upload a PDF or circumvent publisher restrictions. Instead, consider an OER, a link to a library resource, or a Bookstore discount program.

Questions?
Contact your college's course scheduler or the AL$ Coordinator.